South Africa and China Expand Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence Education

 Devdiscourse, a media platform for development stakeholders, posted on 13 May 2026 an article titled "SA and China Deepen Partnership in AI Education, Technical Skills and Student Mobility."

South Africa and China have agreed to expand significantly cooperation in digital education, artificial intelligence (AI), vocational training, and student mobility following discussions in Hangzhou.  This is part of a broader effort to align education systems with industrial transformation, technological innovation, and future workforce demands.

Can China's Approach to AI Offer Lessons for Africa?

 The Diplomat published on 4 May 2026 a commentary titled "What China's AI Push Can Teach Africa about the Future of Labor" by Hannah Ryder and Huiyi Chen.

The authors argue that Africa should look at China's approach to dealing with AI and robotics in the workplace rather than the approach taken by Western countries.  China works on the assumption that automation does not move in one direction, at one speed, or through one class of jobs.  It can shift jobs from factory floors to office desks, from routine administration to design studios, and from manual repetition to communications and performance roles.

Comment:  The authors draw sharper differences between China's response to AI in the job market and the approach of Western countries than the situation merits.  They also assume a transition by the African labor force that may be more difficult to achieve than they suggest.

How Conflict in Africa Shapes Chinese Investment

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 21 April 2026 an article titled "Recent Study Maps How Conflict in Africa Shapes Chinese Investment."

A recent study by scholars affiliated with the People's Public Security University of China maps how China's expanding presence in Africa intersects with regions already characterized by persistent and, in many cases, escalating conflict.  The study tracks how armed conflict across Africa has evolved between 1997 and 2024 and what this shift means for China's economic and strategic exposure, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The authors identify a consistent pattern, which is that in certain contexts, weaknesses in labor relations, environmental management, and community engagement can contribute to local dissatisfaction.  In some cases, this dissatisfaction escalates into protests or localized unrest around Chinese projects.  As China's economic presence expands across conflict affected regions, the question of protecting overseas assets and personnel has become more central.  

World Bank Assessment of Sub-Saharan Africa's Growth Prospects

 The World Bank Group published in April 2026 "Africa Economic Update: Making Industrial Policy Work in Africa."

The World Bank projects that growth in Sub-Saharan Africa for 2026 will average 4.1 percent, the same as in 2025.  Downside risks, however, are emerging due in large part to disruptions caused by the war in Iran.  They include rising fuel, food, and fertilizer prices together with tighter financial conditions that are likely to push inflation higher, disrupt economic activity, and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable households which spend a larger share of their income on food and energy.

The Complexities of the China-Libya Relationship

 The ChinaMed Project published on 30 January 2026 an analysis titled "China and the Libyan Crisis: Maintaining a Foot in the Door in a Changing Region" by Bianca Pasquier and Leonardo Bruni.  

This paper revisits the past decade of Chinese engagement in Libya, tracing Beijing's evolving relations with the country's factions and situating them within a regional context.  It concludes that China is unlikely to engage deeply in Libya's power struggles.  Beijing will likely keep its options open, be present but uncommitted.  

Future of the China-Africa Relationship

 The Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory, an Accra-based think tank, published in January 2026 a paper titled "Why People Matter: Reimagining the Future of Africa-China Cooperation" by Paul Frimpong.

The Africa-China connection needs to shift from a primarily state-to-state model toward a society-to-society approach.  Governments remain essential, but durable cooperation is built when universities, collaborate, journalists exchange perspectives, businesses form partnerships, and communities interact directly.

A second shift is from delivery-focused engagement to experience and impact-focused cooperation.  Success should be measured not only by outputs--kilometers of road or megawatts of power--but by outcomes such as skills development, technology absorption, and local enterprise growth.

The third shift is from delivery exposure to mutual learning.  People-to-people exchanges are most effective when they are reciprocal, allowing Africans and Chinese alike to learn, adapt, and innovate together.  This mutuality strengthens trust and reinforces the principle of partnership.

Madagascar-China Relations

 The People's Map of Global China published on 25 November 2025 a paper titled "Madagascar" by Xuefei Shi, a development researcher based in Bergen, Norway.

This is a nice summary of the relationship between Madagascar and China.  It covers historical ties as well as the current relationship.  

The US Can Outcompete China in Africa

 The American Enterprise Institute published on 26 November 2025 a commentary titled "The U.S. Can Outcompete China in Africa" by Liam Karr and Yale Ford.

AEI argues that American companies have a better track record than Chinese companies on issues such as protecting the environment, worker safety, and labor standards.  US companies are less likely to make some of the mistakes made recently in Africa by Chinese companies.  Consequently, African countries should be attracting more US investment, and US companies should win more construction contracts than Chinese companies.

Comment:  In theory, this is a valid argument, but it overlooks financing advantages often offered by Chinese state banks and state-owned companies, a larger on the ground presence in Africa by important sectors such as Chinese construction and IT companies, a willingness by Chinese companies to take higher risks, a greater willingness by Chinese companies to engage in corrupt practices that are all too common in Africa, fewer governmental incentives available to American companies, and just less interest in Africa by American companies.  There is no indication this situation will change anytime soon.  

Ethiopia Detains Journalists

 The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 5 September 2025 a press release titled "Ethiopian Police Detain 2 Sheger FM Journalists, Force Station to Delete Report."

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that Ethiopian authorities detained 2 FM radio journalists and forced the station to remove a report on widespread poor working conditions of healthcare workers.

The Changing Shape of Chinese Investment in Africa

 The Center for Global Development published in June 2025 a paper titled "China's Investment Pivot and Africa's Industrial Prospects: Any Hope for African 'Flying Geese'?" by Charles Kenny.  

The paper examines the changing shape of Chinese investment in Africa as it evolves from largescale infrastructure toward small scale manufacturing.  It looks at the opportunity for the region in the context of a deepening manufacturing labor shortage in China; discusses barriers to that opportunity in both China and Africa; and the potential response of Western countries.  

West African Military Coups Widen Opportunities/Challenges for China

 The London School of Economics and Political Science blog posted on 11 June 2025 a commentary titled "Military Takeovers in West Africa Are Reshaping Diplomatic Ties" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah and Christian Kaunert, both at Dublin City University.  

Military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have upended democratic governance, enabling China to deepen economic and strategic engagement as Western influence wanes.  At the same time, there is growing concern over China's policies on debt and labor relations.

Chinese Managers and Botswana Workers

 The Melbourne Asia Review published on 2 June 2025 an article titled "Chinese Employers in Botswana and Their Impact on Local Workers" by Liang Chen.

An estimated 15,000 Chinese work and live in Botswana.  This article is based on interviews with 34 Chinese shopkeepers/managers and 19 Batswana employees.  There is considerable tension in the workplace because Chinese shopkeepers prefer to hire workers from Zambia and Zimbabwe rather than those from Botswana who are seen as inefficient.  For their part, Batswana see the Chinese shopkeepers/managers as excessively strict.  

Niger Cracks Down on Chinese Oil Employees in Country

 West Africa Weekly published on 26 May 2025 an article titled "Niger Orders Expulsion of Foreign Oil Workers Over Labour Violations, Demands Local Employment Compliance" by Joy Chukwu.

The Nigerien government has asked the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to terminate the contracts of expatriate employees who have worked in the country for more than 4 years.  Niger accused CNPC of failing to comply with local labor laws.  

Chinese Mining in Zambia: Has It Been Worth It?

 The Pulitzer Center published on 30 April 2025 a commentary titled "Six Decades Later, Zambians Ask, 'Were Chinese Mining Infrastructure Investments Worth It?'" by Kang-Chun Cheng.  

Mining, especially copper, accounts for almost three-quarters of Zambia's foreign exchange earnings and total exports. In the 1970s, China financed and built the railway for transporting minerals from Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.  Chinese companies invested heavily in Zambian mines.  But human rights abuses, labor law infractions, and environmental practices have soured many Zambians on China's engagement in the country.  

China Considers Reviving Projects in Libya

 The Libya Herald published on 11 March 2025 an article titled "Libya and China Discuss Establishment of Libyan Chinese Training Centre in Benghazi and an MOU" by Sami Zaptia.

The charge d'affaires of the Libyan embassy met with Libya's Minister of Labor and Rehabilitation in Tripoli where they discussed ways to accelerate the return of Chinese companies to Libya and resumption of development activities, including vocational training and employment and regulating the mobility of labor.  They also discussed a Libyan-Chinese Centre for Vocational Training and Rehabilitation in Benghazi.  

Will China Rely Increasingly on Private Companies for Security in Africa?

 Liechtenstein-based Geopolitical Intelligence Services published on 6 December 2024 a commentary titled "China's Military and Private Security Inroads in Africa" by Frederica Saini Fasanotti.  

As Chinese nationals residing and working in Africa face larger numbers of security threats, the author suggests China will turn increasingly to private security companies to protect them.

The Pros and Cons of China in Africa

 The New Left Review published on 25 July 2024 a commentary titled "Evil Empires?" by Elizabeth Schmidt.

The author looks at the plusses and minuses of China's engagement in Africa since the end of the Cold War.  

China-Tunisia Economic Relations in Decline

 Chinamed Data recently posted a series of charts that track China-Tunisia economic relations.  They demonstrate a decline in Chinese investment stock in Tunisia, fewer Chinese contract workers in the country, less contracts awarded to Chinese companies, and declining Tunisian exports to China.  The only category that increased was Chinese exports to Tunisia, which reached $2 billion in 2023 compared with only $250 million dollars of Tunisian exports to China.  

The Hidden World of Chinese Manufacturing in Ethiopia

 The China Global South Project posted on 31 May 2024 a 40-minute audio discussion (and written transcript) with Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan, co-directors/producers of their recent documentary film titled "Made in Ethiopia."  Eric Olander and Cobus van Staden ask the questions.

The discussion and the documentary film focus on relationships between Ethiopian workers and Chinese managers at a Chinese industrial park outside Addis Ababa.  Some 100 Chinese companies have manufacturing facilities in the industrial park.  Filming took place over four years and was interrupted by both COVID-19 and the war between federal government forces and Tigray Defense Forces.

For more information on the film, visit the website.  It will be shown at the Tribeca Festival in New York on 6, 9, and 14 June, at the Sheffield Festival in the UK on 13 and 15 June, at DC/DOX in Washington on 16 June, at Encounters in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22 June, and at Encounters in Cape Town, South Africa on 29 June.

Chinese Nationals Implicated in Nigeria's Illegal Lithium Mining

 The Associated Press published on 26 May 2024 an article titled "Nigeria Is Emerging as a Critical Mineral Hub.  The Government Is Cracking Down on Illegal Operations" by Taiwo Adebayo.

Nigerian authorities recently arrested 32 persons, including two Chinese nationals, for engaging in illegal lithium mining.  These arrests follow earlier seizures of lithium and arrest of Chinese nationals, who employ Nigerians to dig for the lithium at remote sites.